Door check and closer



Dec.

/M ATTORNEY. r

Dec. 28, E BQMMER DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26,1934 l INVENTOR. finzi 'mwzef BY l W MAATTORNEY.

in connection with lavatory doors or the like, and Y 1 VPatented Dec.28, Y1937 l 2,103,660 Doon CHECK AND CLOSER o Emillommenrooklyn, N. Y.;Gustav Bommer, VJohn F. Voelkel, and Charles F. Gehrmann executors ofsaid Emil Bommel', deceased .Application December 26, 1934, SerialNo.v759,170

5 Claims. (C1. 1ct-5o) This invention has reference to improvements in.vor relating to a door check and closer of the type in which .theaction ofa tensioned's'pring causes .closing movement ,of the door andat the .same time causes movement of a piston against checking mediumwhereby automatically to regulate the closing movement of the door.

The invention has .for its object to improve generally in theconstruction and operation 'of a door check and closer and isillustrated as embodied in a hinge adapted to beengaged with a stileforuse I desire to make it understood that my rinvention is not connedor limited to thisparticular type of hinge, but may be employed insuitably designed 'door-supporting vor closing constructions,v whetherengageable with .the stile, with the flooring below the door or thelintel above the door.

An object of my invention isto provide within the casing containingthechecking medium, a sliding connection between the door spindle and thepiston which is opposed by the checking medium during the closingmovement of the door,'and a screw-threaded connection between suchpiston and an anchor member.V By my simple and rnovel arrangement, thepiston turns with the turning movement of the spindle and by reason ofits screw connection with the anchor member it is auto# matically givenan independentl axial movement relatively to the spindle when itisturned by the spindle. During they closing movement'of theA door, thepiston while turning is moved' axially against the checking medium inapressure'chamber which is formed between the piston and the anchormember, andduringv the opening movementy of the door the piston isactuated in a coun-V terdirectionin which it is unopposed by thepressure force Vof the checking medium.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a construction ofthecharacter described a valve for regulating the flow of checking uidin the relief passage leading from the pressure chamber,

. the parts being so arranged that .thi'sregulating valvemay beldisposed for manipulation from the outside of thecasing. Another objectof the invention inthis connection-is to provide in associv ation withthe pressure chamber, a valve guarded relief or dumpingchamber adaptedinstantly to e accommodate some of the checking fluid in order torelieve stresses and strains on theworking parts ,in the event it isattempted manually to forcethe closing movementofthe door'.

VAnother object Yof the invention Visto provide au construction invwhich the Ydoor-engaging spindlev is Vfurnished forv easy turningmovement with ,a

Yalso the weight'of the door supported thereby, in

.caseswherethe spindle supports Ythe door,`will`lbe supported in theltopportion of the casing. '5 Y With the foregoing and other objects inview, my invention'consists of the -features of 'construction, and ofthe combination and relative arrange-V ment ofy the several parts ashereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the 10accompanying drawings, in which:-` f V Figure 1 represents a verticalsectional View through a doorcheck land closer made in accordance withmy invention; Y

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line "15 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectionaldetail taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2,V showingthe valve for regulating the flow of checking fluid in the outletpassage of the pressure chamber; v 20 Fig.4 4 is an Yelevational partVsectional view, showing the parts by means of which the doorengagingspindle is mounted and 'slidingly connected with the piston, these partsbeing shown separated but in properV relation "for assembly; 25

Fig.'5 is a side elevational view of the stationary or lower anchormember for the torsion spring;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on theV line 6-6 of Fig. 5; .Q Y

Fig. '7 is a top plan view ofthe piston; i 30 Fig. 8 is a side elevationandsection of the..piston, the section being on the line 8 8 of Fig.7,'to show the ball valves; l A

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the anchor post;A and Fig, 10 is a side andpart sectional view there- 35 of..

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, wherein forpurposes of illustration only, I have shown my improvements as embodiedina hinge designed for use in connection with lav-V atory doors, IIdenotes a casing of general cylindrical form and of appropriate length,having spaced leaves I2 for embracing the stile and having a spindle I3for engaging the door,V the upper end of thegspindle for this purposebeing prefer- 45 ably of angular or polygonal form in cross section inorderv to engage in a correspondingly shaped socket in the door.

`v.The casing is represented as provided with an' integral bottom end I4formed with an axial downwardly projecting boss I5 in which is pro- Ypriately countersunk as at I8 Yto accomodate the T VVhead of the screw.`I9 denotes a vertically dis, 55- Y posed cylindrical member or post thelower end of which consists of a reduced portion or boss 2t which fitsin a circular recess 2i in the bottom end and is axially provided with ascrewthreaded opening 22 for engagement by the inner end of the screwwhereby to secure this element or post rigidly with the casing. Thiscylindrical element or post, along its longitudinal axis, is providedwith spirally cut female threads 23, and for convenience in manufacturethese threads are preferably produced in a separate member or sleeve 24which is fitted within a suitable bore in the post and secured in placeby means of elongated pins 25 inserted in bores made partly in the postitself and partly in the sleeve as shown in Figs. 1 and 9.

26 is the piston and this element is formed with a tubular portion 21slidably tting around the post i9 to provide therewith a checking fluidchamber 28. The piston is provided with an axial stem V29 which isfurnished with male spiral threads 30 for engagement in the threads ofthe post. f

Resting upon the bottom end i4 and of a dimension to engage the innerface of the side wall of the casing is a collar or ring 3l, its upperportion 3l' being inwardly offset and having an interior diameter ofsufcient'size to provide an annular space between it and the exteriorsurface of the tubular portion 21 of the piston. Due to the provision ofthe inwardly offset portion 3l', this collar has an annular top seat orledge 32 and it forms around the post a chamber 33 ot copious size,which chamber is in communication with the main chamber of the casingVthrough the annular space 34. This collar or ring 3i is designed toserve as an anchorage and seat for the coil torsion spring 35. To thisend, in the present embodiment, said collar 3l is secured rigidly withthe casing by means of a set screw 36. The lowermost coil of the torsionspring rests upon the annular shoulder 32 of the collar and the lowerterminal 31 of this spring is engaged in an open notch 38 provided inthe inwardly offset portion 3l of the collar.

Between the spindle and the piston there is provided a connecter devicebymeans of which the piston is rotated with the rotation of the spindleand at the same time is permitted to have an independent axial movementwhich is compelled by the spirally shaped threads between the piston andthe anchor post. In the present embodiment, this connecter device isrepresented as comprising a cylindrical body 33 in which the piston istelescoped for its functional movements, the upper or closed end 4i) ofthis element being rigidly secured to the lower end of the spindle I3 bymeans of a pin 4l. The cylindrical wall of this element is providedlengthwise thereof along diametrically opposite lines with keyways orguide slots 42 in which are slidably engaged key members 43 provided onthe periphery of the piston parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof.The spiral threads between the piston and the stationary post are so cutthat on the opening movement of the door the piston while rotating withthe spindle, will be caused to rise upwardly from the post, enlargingthe checking luid chamber 28 for the ow thereinto of checking uid; andon the closing movement of the door the piston will be compelled to movein a counterdirection, that is to say, toward the top end of thestationary post, thereby contracting the checking uid chamber and movingagainst the checking fluid therein.

The spindle with the weight of the door supported thereby, if thespindle is used in an arrangement for supporting the door, is supportedfor operation in the top portion of the casing and jo-urnaled in a capclosure 44 which is screwthreaded at 45 in the top oi the casing. rIheclosure 44 is by preference made with a central exterior hub or bossportion 46 having a suitable bore in which the plain or smooth portion4'! of the spindle is journaled; and also by preference this hub portionat its outer end is provided around the smooth portion 4l of thespindle, with a cavity for containing packing or the like 48 which isheld in place by an appropriate nut lithreadedly engaged with theportion 46. Adjoining its plain portion il the spindle is provided witha disk 53 which has rotary fit in a suitable circular recess l providedfor the purpose in the underface of the closure. In the presentinstance, this disk is represented as being made integral with thespindle, but thisof course is not essential. Adjacent to and below thedisk 53, the spindle is formed with an angular portion 52, herein shownto be four-sided, and this four-sided portion fits in a correspondingopening provided in the flange 53 upstanding from the collar or ring 54.The outer face of the ange 53 is of circular form and it is surroundedby a disk 55 of larger diameter than the disk 5B and which rests upon anannular shoulder or ledge 56 provided in the casing wall immediatelybelow the screw-threads 45. Antifriction ball elements 51 are disposedbetween the disks 50 and 55 and in suitable raceways provided therein.The collar or ring 54 is formed with an annular shoulder or seat 58 forthe upper end of the torsion spring and it is also formed with acylindrical portion or apron 59 at the inner face of the spring andwhich, it will be observed, is of larger diameter than the upper end 40of the connecter. Said cylindrical portion 59 is provided with an opennotch 60 in which the upper terminal of the torsion spring is engaged.From an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be observed that the parts of thisspindle mounting are so arranged that when the cap closure is tightlyscrew-threaded into place, its Ybottom portion Si will be tightlyengaged with the disk 55 opposite the annular shoulder 5S on which thisdisk rests, thereby holding all of the parts securely in place andpermitting rotation of the collar 54 with the rotation of the spindle.

In assembling the parts of the device, the stationary post with thethreadedly engaged piston having been applied, and the lower anchorcollar having been applied, the torsion spring is inserted and more orless compressed to act in opposite directions against the end collars,and the polygonal portion 52 of the spindle is applied to thecorrespondingly shaped opening in the flange of the collar 54 in suchmanner that the spring will be tensioned, that is to say, wound ortwisted at the upper end portion thereof, to the extent necessary tofurnish the torsional force or power which it is desired to supply tothe particular door in connection with which the device is to beutilized. In short, the spring is given its desired tensional forcebefore the application of the polygonally formed portion 52 to thecorrespondingly formed opening in the collar 54, and this is of coursedone before the application of the cap closure to the casing.

For admitting checking fluidv into the checking fluid chamber 28during'the rising actuation of the piston, the latter is provided withinlet roV passages B2i in which aretprovi'dedupwardly seat'- `ing.lhall. valves 63. During the upward movement of the piston,V theche'cki-ngfluid passes downwa'rdly around the ball.Y valves andV .aroundthe pins 6,4 .which support th'ese valves adjacent the '-chamberl "Onthe. ydescending movement of the piston, the checking fluidV forces thevalves -upwardly against ltheir seats. The relief outlet 'for the'Vcheckingiluid is provided in the station- `ary 'post and consists of apassage 65 which leads downwardly `through said4 postrand has` abranch66 vwhich discharges into the space Ibelow the -screw Istem of thepistonvand also has a port '61 .which discharges intof the' chamber '33; Ihedischarge of the checking fluid, which of ycourseis effected during. thedescending movement of the piston against the checking fluid in thechamber 28, is regulated by a pointed pin valve 68 which is disposedwith its point entering through the ,port 61 and so as to be manipulatedfor adjust- Vment from the. outside of the casing, Vas best shown inFig, 3. The passager 61 is tapered to nular space 34. y The pin valvehas a screw-threaded head .69 which is screw-threaded into a sealing nutor glandll, the latter in turn being screw-threaded into the wall ofthecasing and against suitableV packing 1| wherebyto prevent any leakageof the'checking fluid tothe outside of the casing. By manipulating thepin 68 from theclosing action of the door, the pressure forcey of thechecking liquid in the cavity 28 will unseat' the outside of the, casingthe discharge of the checking fluid through the passage 61 may beregulatedy so as to control to a nicety the checking iiuid resistance tothe closing operation of the door.

Provisionis made whereby eifectually to relieve shocks and strains uponthe working parts due to attempts manually made to force the closingmovement of the door. To this end, the piston is provided with achecking iiuid dumping cavity 12 in communication with the chamber 28.VEntrance of checking fluid into this cavity from the chamber 28 isnormally prevented by a ball valve 13 urged downwardly into its seat bya spring 14 which acts against the ball valve below it and against' ascrew. plug'15 above it,

said screw plugbeing screwthreaded .into V the wall surrounding theuppervend ofthe cavity; If, under this arrangement, it be attempted to forcethe ball valve 13 immediately permitting oil to enter into the cavityand thereby relieving the working parts of strain.

In the construction and arrangement herein illustrated and described,simplicity, compactness and thorough lubrication of all parts arerealized. y Application of the stored power of the torsion springdirectly through the collar 54 upon the spindle assures a prompt andeffective closing of the door while due to the sliding connectionbetween the connecter and piston and the spiral threads between thepiston and the anchor post, the piston is moved with a combined rotaryand axial movement against the opposing checking uid. The parts cannotreadily get outV of order and are in their functioning subject toarrrinimnim oflstrain' and wear, besides being thoroughlylubricated atall times.

VI have herein shown andv described an embodiment ofr 'my presentinvention which has been found highly satisfactory in actual use.7 i

Nevertheless it is to be-.understood 'that the essential features of myinvention may also Vbe embodiedfin various-structural forms other thanthose herein shown by way of example, and I, therefore, reserve theprivilege of resorting to all such changesand modifications as may befairly considered within the spirit andfscope ofv the invention asclaimed.`

casing, a rotatable vdo'or-engaging spindle, a con- V.necter within-ftheycasing fastened vto the spindle to turn therewith, a two-part dashp-otforming a checking fluid chamber within the casing comprising atelescoping piston and stationary elel. A .door check and closercomprising a' iixed ment xed to the casing andconnected to cause v axialmovement of thev piston on `the turning movement thereof, and a rslidingconnection bejtween said connecter andpiston -to cause turning of thepiston with the turning of the spindle in either direction andpermitting axial movement of the piston in either direction as` a partforming with the stationary element the checking liquid chamber.

2. A door check and closer comprising a xed casing having a doorengaging spindle journaled in one end thereof for rotation, a connecterwithin the casing fastened to the spindle to rotate therewith, atelescoping piston and a iixed element formingbetweenpthem a checkingfluidV chamber within the casing and threadably connected to cause`axial movement of the piston on the rotation thereof, means connectingthe connecter and piston to cause rotation of the latter by theVrotation of the spindle and permitting axial Ymovement of the piston,inlet andV outlet passages Afor said chamber, the inlet passage being inthe piston and the outlet passage extending through said xed element, aninlet valve in the inlet passage, and a regulating valve in the outletpassage disposed and arranged to be adjusted from the outside of. thecasing.

3. A door check and closer having in combination with a xed casing and arotatabledoor- Vengaging spindle, a top end closure for the casing `witha bearing in whichthe spindle is journaled,

mounted on the casing to operatively support the spindle and hence thedoor thereon, a torsion spring which coils about the central. interiorofr the casing attached to the spindle to be tensioned bythe rotation ofthe'spindle in one direction and adapted by its stored power to causereverse rotation of the spindle, a connecter fastened to the spindle torotate therewith, a telescoping piston and a stationary element formingbetween them a checking duid chamber and threadably connected to causeaxial movement of the piston on the rotationV thereof, a slidingconnection between said connecter and piston to cause rotation of thepiston with the rotation of the spindle and in either direction andpermitting free axial movement of the piston in either direction, saidspring being disposed below and confined by said beara pistontelescoping the post and forming a checking uid chamber therewith, astem on the piston threadably engaged with the post to cause axialmovement of the piston on the rotation thereof, a rotarydoor engagingand supporting spindle journaled in the upper portion of the casing andconnected with the piston to cause rotation of the piston by therotation of the spindle, its connection with the piston being effectiveto provide for the free axial movement of the piston for enlarging andcontracting the checking fluid chamber formed by and between the pistonand post.

5. In a door check and closer, the combination with a xed casingprovided with a stationary post at one end, a piston telescoping thepost and forming a checking uid chamber therewith, a stem on the pistonthreadably engaged with the post to' cause axial movement of the pistonon the rotation thereof and in either direction, a rotary door engagingand supporting spindle journaled in the opposite end of the casing, aconnection between the spindle and piston for rotating the latter by therotation of the former while permitting axial movement of the piston, aValved inlet in the piston communicating with said chamber for admittingchecking uid when the piston is moved axially in a direction to expandsaid chamber, and a Valved outlet passage for the chamber extendingthrough the post to discharge checking fluid when the piston is movedaxially in a direction to contract said chamber.

EMIL BOMMER,`

